question about stomach fat

jardimgirl
jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
since there are no specific exercises that help target fat, why do so many people suggest to heavy lift? can't i stick to a deficit and add some cardio a few days a week to help shed body fat %? and while doing cardio, cant i do some core exercises so my muscles in my tummy stay firm, once the ft is gone? sorry so many questions, im just really curious.

Replies

  • quest67
    quest67 Posts: 94
    bump
  • quest67
    quest67 Posts: 94
    bump
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    guess no one knows lol
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    If your muscles are floppy, you won't like the way you look no matter how much you lose.
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    Strength training helps in maintaining your lean muscle mass while you're dieting so that as you are losing, your are losing more fat than just weight (which can be a combination of muscle and fat). You will find that as you are losing fat your body is tighter and has more definition rather than if you just did cardio and diet alone. Cardio is great for the heart but does little for muscle preservation. There is also the added benefit that muscle burns more calories at rest than fat does, so it's beneficial metabolically speaking. Also great for the bones and joints and for women, helps to prevent osteoporosis.
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    Heavy lifting helps prevent the loss of lean body mass while you are losing weight. When you eat at a deficit, your body will mainly burn fat but it will also use some muscle. Basically (and this is oversimplified) the body will avoid taking muscles that are used regularly.

    That, and heavy lifting makes you stronger even if you are not actually gaining muscle.

    But you are right, all you need to lose weight and body fat is a caloric deficit. You don't even need to do cardio.
  • ashenriver
    ashenriver Posts: 498 Member
    since there are no specific exercises that help target fat, why do so many people suggest to heavy lift? can't i stick to a deficit and add some cardio a few days a week to help shed body fat %? and while doing cardio, cant i do some core exercises so my muscles in my tummy stay firm, once the ft is gone? sorry so many questions, im just really curious.

    I think I can answer some of those question.

    To lose weight/fat you need a calorie deficit. Doing cardio work increases your calorie deficit as well as cardiovascular health. This is the only thing required to lose fat. Usually this brings a body looking 'skinny fat'

    However

    Lifting heavy or strength training helps maintain muscles to show off when you have lost that layer of fat that hides them.
    Many of the exercises in lifting heavy use core muscles. I have not seen a single knowledgeable person on MFP suggest crunches or sit ups. You want to do squats, dead lifts, leg raises etc, so heavy lifting.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1161603-so-you-want-a-nice-stomach

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/977538-halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    guess no one knows lol

    wait, how many seconds do we have to answer your question? you want instant answers, try google, not an internet forum on a sunday night with a live awards show broadcasting worldwide.

    the reason resistance training is recommended is because without it, you weight loss will come from roughly 50% fat and 50% lean body mass. by following a whole body strength training program (the "lift heavy") you're referring to, you can turn that ratio to having the overwhelming percentage of weight loss come from fat.

    so to wrap up (do i still have time?) if you lose 20 pounds without any RT it could be 10 pounds of fat and 10 pounds of muscle, but if you lift, you can lose 18 pounds of fat and 2 pounds of muscle. if a better looking stomach is what you seek, wouldn't you want to lose more total fat.

    and NO, a bunch of crunches does not count as strength training
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    guess no one knows lol

    wait, how many seconds do we have to answer your question? you want instant answers, try google, not an internet forum on a sunday night with a live awards show broadcasting worldwide.

    the reason resistance training is recommended is because without it, you weight loss will come from roughly 50% fat and 50% lean body mass. by following a whole body strength training program (the "lift heavy") you're referring to, you can turn that ratio to having the overwhelming percentage of weight loss come from fat.

    so to wrap up (do i still have time?) if you lose 20 pounds without any RT it could be 10 pounds of fat and 10 pounds of muscle, but if you lift, you can lose 18 pounds of fat and 2 pounds of muscle. if a better looking stomach is what you seek, wouldn't you want to lose more total fat.

    and NO, a bunch of crunches does not count as strength training

    You were shuffled off stage forcefully after paragraph two. The warning music was on!
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    I don't do well under pressure!!

    *faints*








    Dave, please carry me off stage.
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    guess no one knows lol

    wait, how many seconds do we have to answer your question? you want instant answers, try google, not an internet forum on a sunday night with a live awards show broadcasting worldwide.

    the reason resistance training is recommended is because without it, you weight loss will come from roughly 50% fat and 50% lean body mass. by following a whole body strength training program (the "lift heavy") you're referring to, you can turn that ratio to having the overwhelming percentage of weight loss come from fat.

    so to wrap up (do i still have time?) if you lose 20 pounds without any RT it could be 10 pounds of fat and 10 pounds of muscle, but if you lift, you can lose 18 pounds of fat and 2 pounds of muscle. if a better looking stomach is what you seek, wouldn't you want to lose more total fat.

    and NO, a bunch of crunches does not count as strength training

    ummmmm the Pro Bowl?!?! Don't forget about that awesomeness. :laugh:
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    guess no one knows lol

    wait, how many seconds do we have to answer your question? you want instant answers, try google, not an internet forum on a sunday night with a live awards show broadcasting worldwide.

    the reason resistance training is recommended is because without it, you weight loss will come from roughly 50% fat and 50% lean body mass. by following a whole body strength training program (the "lift heavy") you're referring to, you can turn that ratio to having the overwhelming percentage of weight loss come from fat.

    so to wrap up (do i still have time?) if you lose 20 pounds without any RT it could be 10 pounds of fat and 10 pounds of muscle, but if you lift, you can lose 18 pounds of fat and 2 pounds of muscle. if a better looking stomach is what you seek, wouldn't you want to lose more total fat.

    and NO, a bunch of crunches does not count as strength training

    You were shuffled off stage forcefully after paragraph two. The warning music was on!

    That warning music started FAR too soon.
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    wow peopl on these forums can be real mean.. learned my lesson.. i wont be asking sh*** no more
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    wow peopl on these forums can be real mean.. learned my lesson.. i wont be asking sh*** no more

    Oh wow, seriously? You thought that was MEAN? That's the funniest thing I've read on the forums today.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    In for watching the rattle thrown from the crib
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    compound movements work more then one area and also help with body recomp..unless your goal is to be skinny fat?
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    guess no one knows lol

    wait, how many seconds do we have to answer your question? you want instant answers, try google, not an internet forum on a sunday night with a live awards show broadcasting worldwide.

    the reason resistance training is recommended is because without it, you weight loss will come from roughly 50% fat and 50% lean body mass. by following a whole body strength training program (the "lift heavy") you're referring to, you can turn that ratio to having the overwhelming percentage of weight loss come from fat.

    so to wrap up (do i still have time?) if you lose 20 pounds without any RT it could be 10 pounds of fat and 10 pounds of muscle, but if you lift, you can lose 18 pounds of fat and 2 pounds of muscle. if a better looking stomach is what you seek, wouldn't you want to lose more total fat.

    and NO, a bunch of crunches does not count as strength training

    I actually thought this was good and funny ..best of both worlds…

    sorry you saw it differently OP
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    Got your answer, didn't you? I dunno, I can read it from a "written to me" perspective and I'm still giggling.
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    i dont know anything about weight lifting, but i know that it will be something ill do for a few days and then give up. i dont want to end up skinny fat, but cant i do weight training with out the equipment?
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    i dont know anything about weight lifting, but i know that it will be something ill do for a few days and then give up. i dont want to end up skinny fat, but cant i do weight training with out the equipment?


    Yes, you can do resistance training without the equipment.
    Look up "you are your own gym" or "convict conditioning".
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    i dont know anything about weight lifting, but i know that it will be something ill do for a few days and then give up. i dont want to end up skinny fat, but cant i do weight training with out the equipment?

    is joining a gym an option?
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    i dont know anything about weight lifting, but i know that it will be something ill do for a few days and then give up. i dont want to end up skinny fat, but cant i do weight training with out the equipment?

    there are many bodyweight programs that can get you results in your living room. there are many things you can do in a local park. there are thousands upon thousands of youtube videos that you can find online to help you achieve your goals.

    weights are helpful but not required. what is required, however, is a positive attitude. if you've already decided that you're going to give up or flounce from the site or whatever, it's going to be hard to reach your goals. getting mad makes me work harder, not quit.
  • nancybuss
    nancybuss Posts: 1,461 Member
    great info and entertainment.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    wow peopl on these forums can be real mean.. learned my lesson.. i wont be asking sh*** no more

    I will note that you got petulant when no one had answered your question 10 minutes after posting it.

    Now that people have answered your question at length, you just complain about how mean they are instead of saying sorry and thanks.

    Who's the mean one?
  • daryll77
    daryll77 Posts: 29
    Try FitnessBlender.com they have heaps of strength exercises you can do with little or no equipment and they are FREE...I love them!
  • vwbug86
    vwbug86 Posts: 283 Member
    i dont know anything about weight lifting, but i know that it will be something ill do for a few days and then give up. i dont want to end up skinny fat, but cant i do weight training with out the equipment?

    If you don't want to invest much money you may want to look into "You are Your Own Gym". I got the Kindle version for $10. There is also an app for $3, but I haven't used it.

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